Climbing aid

ABSTRACT

Climbing aid structure includes a grappling hook. A throw line and a climbing line are attached to the grappling hook. The throw line is thrown over an overhead support (such as a tree limb), and the grappling hook is emplaced by manipulation of the throw and climbing lines. The climbing line is then oriented in an upright position and tensioned by use of a ground anchor. Handand-foot engaging, line-gripping elevator devices are positioned on the climbing line for ascent of the line by a climber. The line-gripping devices include levers which wedge against the rope under the weight of a climber, to grip the rope and provide support for the climber to ascend the climbing line.

[ 1 Apr. 25, 1972 CLIMBING AID Hamilton L. Wisdom, 324 East Oak Lane, Lake Charles, La. 70601 [22] Filed: July 14,1970

211 Appl.No.: 54,825

[72] Inventor:

3,177,543 4/1965 Fountain ..l82/5 569,810 10/1896 Carey ..182/63 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Shanley and ONeil [57] ABSTRACT Climbing aid structure includes a grappling hook. A throw line and a climbing line are attached to the grappling hook. The throw line is thrown over an overhead support (such as a tree limb), and the grappling hook is emplaced by manipulation of the throw and climbing lines. The climbing line is then oriented in an upright position and tensioned by use of a ground anchor. l-land-and-foot engaging, line-gripping elevator devices are positioned on the climbing line for ascent of the line by a climber. The line-gripping devices include levers which wedge against the rope under the weight of a climber, to grip the rope and provide support for the climber to ascend the climbing line.

14 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 m2 SHEET 10F 2 IN VEN TOR. HAM/LTON L. W/SDOM FIG! ATTORNEYS CLIMBING AID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hunting, exploring, forestry and other outdoor activities involve traversing rough terrain, and ascent into trees or other elevated positions is frequently required for entry into game blinds, or for observation, work or other purpose. Such climbing is often effected with aid of one or another of various prior art structures which have been proposed to aid climbers, but which suffer from one disadvantage or another which prevented their being entirely satisfactory. For example, in rope ascent, a grappling hook is frequently used to elevate the rope to an overhead support and this is customarily effected by throwing the hook upwardly until it catches somewhere on the overhead support. Such haphazard placement often results in an uncertain purchase which is liable to cause injury to the climber by untimely release. In any event, once the rope is emplaced hand-over-hand ascension is required, and such activity is slow and highly strenuous and requires skill and stamina. Rope-gripping devices proposed in the past to facilitate rope ascent are disadvantageous in twisting or cutting into the rope to grip the rope and thus tending to damage the rope fibers. Also, shifting and swaying of the rope from imbalanced forces tended to make climbing difficult. Moreover, such devices were often bulky and thus lacked necessary portability.

It is apparent that needs exist for improved climbing aids which will permit safe, easy and rapid ascent of trees and other high places, which are rugged and durable in use, and which are highly portable. Accordingly, main objects of the invention are the fulfillment of these needs.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description which, in connection with the accompanying schematic drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration only and not for definition of the limits of the invention. For determining the scope of the invention, reference will be made to the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a climbing aid structure which embodies principles of the invention and which is installed for USC.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of grappling hook details of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 30, 3b and 3c illustrate steps of installation of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of details of a linegripping unit of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the structure of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail view on line 6-6 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of the line-gripping unit of FIG. 4, with the operating levers in wedging position.

FIG. 8 is a back view of a modified form of grappling hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, climbing aid structure 10 is installed between an overhead support in the form of a tree limb l2 and the ground 14. Climbing device 10 comprises a throw line 16 having a weight 18 attached to its free end. Throw line 16 is connected to a grappling hook 20 which is hooked over tree limb 12. A climbing line 22, of greater diameter and strength than throw line 16, is also attached to grappling hook 20. A ground anchor in the form of corkscrew stake 24 is directly below grappling hook 20, and line 22 is threaded through an eye in stake 24 so that a portion of the climbing line is anchored in a generally upright position below the grappling hook. Climbing line 22 is tensioned, and then tied to a fixed member such as tree 26. The knot in the line maintains tension in the upright portion of the line between stake 24 and grappling hook 20. Of course, the climbing line can be tied to the stake itself, or any other fixed object, as well as to tree 26.

Elevator means, including a hand-operated line-gripping unit 28 and a foot-operated line-gripping unit 30, are provided in serial arrangement on the upright portion of climbing line 22 for enabling a climber to ascend the upright portion of the climbing line. Hook 20 and stake 24 are preferably formed of metal of sufiicient strength to withstand the forces expected to be carried, while lines 16 and 22 are formed of a suitable flexible material, e.g. sisal.

In FIG. 2, grappling hook 20 is shown in enlarged detail and includes a generally U-shaped member or hook portion 32 having three closed sides and an open side. An arm portion 34 extends from the U-shaped member 32. Arm 34 has one end portion contiguous to the open side of the U, and also has a free end portion. Ann 34 has an eye 36 contiguous to its free end portion, for connection of climbing line 22. A second eye 38 is contiguous to the inner end portion of arm 34, i.e., at the juncture of arm 34 and U-shaped member 32. Eye 38 is provided for connection of throw line 16 to grappling book 20. A

spring clip 40 (see also FIG. 6) is provided on a closed side of U-shaped member 32 at a location opposite the open side to temporarily and releasably retain climbing line 22 in the plane of grappling hook 20 for purposes to be described below.

Grappling hook 20 is preferably of sufficient size to enable the hook to grapple typical overhead supports which are expected to be encountered. For example, a grappling hook having dimensions of 8 inches on a side with an arm 34 4 inches in length is suitable.

In FIGS. 30, 3b and 30, steps of installation of the climbing aid are shown. In FIG. 3a, weight 18 with throw line 16 attached has been thrown over tree limb l2 and climbing line 22 has been snapped into retaining clip 40. As best understood from FIG. 3b, grappling hook 20 and climbing line 22 (with the climbing line retained in clip 40) are then pulled upwardly by pulling downwardly on throw line 16 until the hook is proximate the limb 12 as shown. By virtue of the spaced-apart connections of climbing line 22 and throw line 16 to hook 20, the plane of the hook can be oriented perpendicularly relative to the limb (with the open side of the hook outward as shown) by manipulation of climbing line 22 and throw line 16. Construction of the hook with its center of gravity at a location which is below the location of connection of throw line 16 to the hook as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3b maintains the open side of the hook facing generally upwardly and assures that the hook can be oriented to the limb as shown in FIG. 3b.

With the hook oriented as shown in FIG. 3b, a downward pull on climbing line 22 rotates grappling hook 20 about the connection of the throw line to the hook and into hooking relation to limb 12 as shown in FIG. 30. Manipulation of the hook into hooking relation with the limb can be aided by downward pulling on throw line 16 while pulling downward on the climbing line. Line-gripping units 28 and 30 are then run along line 22 so as to be above stake 24, and the free end of climbing line is then threaded through the eye in the stake and tied off as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of hand-operated line-gripping unit 28. Hand-operated gripping unit 28 and foot'operated gripping unit 30 are similar, and a description of one imparts an understanding of both. The only practical difference between line-gripping units 28 and 30 is the provision of instep-engaging brackets 42 (FIG. 1) on foot unit 30 for operation of the foot unit by the feet of a climber as will be described below.

Hand unit 28 includes a frame or housing 44 (FIGS. 4, 7) having front, back, top and bottom plates, and having open sides. Tubular rope guides 46, 48 are provided at top and bottom of the unit for receiving climbing line 22. The climbing line passes through the top and bottom of the hand unit. A pair of support members or levers 50, 52 are pivotally mounted on housing 44 on pins 54, 56 respectively. Support levers 50, 52 project outwardly through the open sides of housing 44, in opposite directions relative to climbing line 22. The inner ends of levers 50,52 are formed with generally semi-circular wedging surfaces 58, 60 respectively. If desired, wedging surfaces 58, 60 can be concave to conform to the external shape of climbing line 22, as will be discussed further hereinafter. Climbing line 22 passes through housing 44 between the wedging surfaces of support levers 50, 52.

Each of pivot pins 54, 56 is spaced upwardly along the climbing line from the longitudinal axis or centerline of the respective support lever 50, 52, upon which axes are the centers of curvature of the wedging surfaces. With such eccentric positioning of the pivot pins, downward swinging movement of the levers about the pivot pins moves wedging surfaces 58, 60 from the position shown in FIG. 4 toward and into opposition with one another to wedge climbing line 22 between the wedging surfaces and thereby grip the climbing line to prevent movement of the unit 28 relative to the line. Upward rotation of support levers 50 and 52 to return to the position shown in FIG. 4 moves the wedging surfaces away from one another and out of wedging relation to the climbing line to release the line 22 so that the unit is free to move along the line.

Support levers 50, 52 of unit 28 are for gripping by the hands of a climber. The support levers of line-gripping unit 30 (FIG. 1) are for support of the climbers feet. In order for the feet of a climber to pull foot unit 30 upwardly along the climbing line, brackets 42 are provided to retain the feet of the climber. Each bracket 42 has an upper, foot-retaining or instep-engaging portion extending along the support lever and spaced therefrom in a direction along the climbing line toward the hand unit. The instep-engaging portions of the brackets enable the climber to pull the foot unit up the climbing line by pulling upwardly with his feet.

In use, a climber inserts his feet in foot unit 30 contiguous to the ground, and the climber grips the support levers of hand unit 28 with his hands. He then rotates the levers of the hand unit upwardly to release the hand unit for movement along the climbing line, and advances the hand unit upwardly to the limit of his reach. The climber then pulls downwardly on the support levers of the hand unit, locking the hand unit with respect to the line 22, and pulls himself upwardly, thereby pulling upwardly on the support levers of the foot unit and thus not only moving the support levers of the foot unit out of wedging relation to the climbing line but also pulling the foot unit upwardly along the climbing line. When the foot unit 30 is raised as far as possible, the climber shifts his weight from his hands to his feet, thereby rotating the levers of the foot unit downwardly into wedging relation with the climbing line and thus locking the unit with respect to line 22. The climber then releases the hand unit from gripping relation to the line, advances the hand unit upwardly along the line as far as possible, shifts his weight to his hands to pull himself and the foot unit upwardly, and repeats the entire procedure until he reaches tree limb 12. The throw line can be used to pull rifles or other gear up to the tree limb. Descent is accomplished by reversing the climbing process.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of line-gripping unit. Reference numerals with 100" added are employed to designate parts similar to parts previously described and designated with the corresponding reference numerals less 100. In FIG. 5, support member 152 does not rotate, but is fixed in position on frame 144 by pins 70. Wedging surface 68 is provided on the inner end of support 152, and can be fiat or have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of climbing line 122.

A locking member 62 is interposed between climbing line 122 and support lever 150, which pivots on pin 154. Locking member 62 has a climbing-line-contacting surface 66 which is complementary in shape to the climbing line. Stated otherwise, line-contacting surface 66 is concave to complement the convex external configuration of climbing line 122. Locking member 62 also has a curved force-receiving surface 64 which is opposite line-contacting surface 66 and which is complementary in shape to wedging surface 158 of support lever 150. Wedging surface 158 acts through locking member 62 to wedge the climbing line against wedging surface 68 of fixed support member 152 when support lever 150 is rotated downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Rotation of the lever 150 about pivot pin 154 upwardly releases the locking member from gripping relation to the climbing line, so that the unit is free to move along the line. Locking member 62 floats between the climbing line and support lever during movement of the unit along the line, but is retained in the general area of the position shown by coaction of the curved force-receiving surface 64 with curved wedging surface 158, in association with the climbing line and the front and back plates of the frame.

Climbing aid structures according to the invention are highly advantageous. It will be observed that in neither the structure of FIG. 4 nor that of FIG. 5 is the-climbing line twisted in any way by the gripping units, which efi'ect gripping by wedging action only and not by twisting the line with sharp bends which endanger the fibers of the line. Further, gripping is effected through wedging by broad contact surfaces, and there are no sharp edges to dig into andv thus damage the climbing line. In both the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 structures, by virtue of oppositely-extending supports, the climbers weight is distributed uniformly on both sides of the rope at any given location along the line to facilitate climbing by preventing swaying or shifting of the rope as would be the case where weight of the .clirnber is applied to one side of the line without any generally equal and opposite action or reaction on the other side. Climbing aid structures according to the invention also possess a high degree of portability.

The climbing aid structures also are advantageous in facilitating emplacement of the grappling hook, and assuring that it is safely and securely held by the overhead support. As described above, a grappling hook with a rope-retaining clip 40 obtains these results, and F IG. 8 shows a modified form of grappling hook by which such results are also obtained. In FIG. .8, reference numerals with 200 added are used to denote elements similar to elements previously designated with the corresponding reference numerals less 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the rope-retaining clip has been eliminated and hook portion 232 of grappling hook 220 is inclined relative to the plane of arm portion 234 at the juncture of the hook portion and the arm portion. The upper end portion 72 of the grappling hook is still further inclined relative to arm 34. The book 220 is drawn up to the limb by throw line 216 in the generally upright orientation shown. The inclined or bent portions of grappling hook 220 bypass limb 212 to one side instead of bumping into an underside portion of the limb, and hook portion 232 can be elevated to a position for manipulation into hooking relation with the limb by operation of lines 216 and 222 from ground level.

I claim:

1. Climbing aid structure, comprising a climbing line,

at least one line-gripping means operatively associated with the climbing line,

each of the line-gripping means including a frame,

first and second support members carried by the frame,

the first and second support members projecting outwardly in opposite directions relative to the climbing line,

a first wedging surface operatively associated with the first support member,

a second wedging surface operatively associated with the second support member, and

mounting means mounting the first support member for swinging movement between a first position in which the first wedging surface opposes the second wedging surface and the climbing line is wedged between the first and second wedging surfaces to prevent movement of the line-gripping means relative to the climbing line, and

a second position in which the first wedging surface is out of wedging relation to the climbing line and the line-gripping means is free to move relative to the climbing line,

grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member, and

a throw line for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead supporting member,

the grappling hook means including an arm and an open side,

the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion,

throw line connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and

climbing line connecting means contiguous to the second end portion of the arm.

2. The structure of claim 1, including second mounting means mounting the second support member for swinging movement between a first position in which the second wedging surface opposes the first wedging surface and the climbing line is wedged between the first and second wedging surfaces to prevent movement of the line-gripping means relative to the climbing line, and

a second position in which the second wedging surface is out of wedging relation to the climbing line and the linegripping means is free to move relative to the climbing line.

3. The structure of claim 1, including two line-gripping means serially arranged along the climbing line,

one of the line-gripping means including bracket means operatively associated with each of the first and second support members for retaining a foot of a climber,

each bracket means including a retaining portion extending along the support member and spaced from the support member in a direction toward the other line-gripping means.

4. The structure of claim 1, including a locking member interposed between the climbing line and the first support member,

the first wedging surface having a curved configuration,

the locking member having a line-contacting surface which is generally complementary in shape to the climbing line,

the locking member also having a curved force-receiving surface which is opposite the line-contacting surface and which is generally complementary in shape to the first wedging surface,

the first wedging surface acting through the locking member to wedge the climbing line against the second wedging surface. I

5. The structure of claim 1, including second mounting means mounting the second support member in fixed position.

6. The structure of claim 1,

the first wedging surface having a generally semi-circular configuration,

the first support member being elongated and having a longitudinal axis,

the mounting means comprising a pivot member spaced in a direction along the climbing line from the axis of the first support member.

7. The structure of claim 1, including clip means at a location opposite the open side for releasably retaining the climbing line.

8. The structure of claim 1,

the grappling hook means including a portion inclined in a direction away from the arm for bypassing the overhead supporting member.

9. The structure of claim 1, including ground-anchoring means for anchoring at least a portion of the climbing line in a generally upright position below the grappling hook means.

10. The structure of claim 9, including means for maintaining tension in the upright portion of the climbing line.

11. Climbing aid structure, comprising grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member,

a throw line for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead su porting member, the grappling 00k means rncludmg an arm and an open side,

the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion,

throw line connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and

climbing line connecting means contiguous to the second end portion of the arm.

12. The structure of claim 11, including clip means at a location opposite the open side for releasably retaining the climbing line.

13. The structure of claim 11,

the grappling hook means including a portion inclined in a direction away from the arm for bypassing the overhead supporting member.

14. Climbing aid structure, comprising grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member,

the grappling hook means including an arm and an open side,

the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion,

first line-connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and

second line-connecting means spaced from the first lineconnecting means and contiguous to the second end portion of the arm,

a throw line operatively associated with one of the line-connecting means for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead supporting member,

a climbing line operatively associated with the other lineconnecting means,

ground-anchoring means for anchoring at least a portion of the climbing line in a generally upright position below the grappling hook means,

means for maintaining tension in the upright portion of the climbing line, and

line-gripping elevator means for ascending the upright portion of the climbing line. 

1. Climbing aid structure, comprising a climbing line, at least one line-gripping means operatively associated with the climbing line, each of the line-gripping means including a frame, first and second support members carried by the frame, the first and second support members projecting outwardly in opposite directions relative to the climbing line, a first wedging surface operatively associated with the first support member, a second wedging surface operatively associated with the second support member, and mounting means mounting the first support member for swinging movement between a first position in which the first wedging surface opposes the second wedging surface and the climbing line is wedged between the first and second wedging surfaces to prevent movement of the line-gripping means relative to the climbing line, and a second position in which the first wedging surface is out of wedging relation to the climbing line and the line-gripping means is free to move relative to the climbing line, grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member, and a throw line for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead supporting member, the grappling hook means including an arm and an open side, the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion, throw line connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and climbing line connecting means contiguous to the second end portion of the arm.
 2. The structure of claim 1, including second mounting means mounting the second support member for swinging movement between a first position in which the second wedging surface opposes the first wedging surface and the climbing line is wedged between the first and second wedging surfaces to prevent movement of the line-gripping means relative to the climbing line, and a second position in which the second wedging surface is out of wedging relation to the climbing line and the line-gripping means is free to move relative to the climbing line.
 3. The structure of claim 1, including two line-gripping means serially arranged along the climbing line, one of the line-gripping means including bracket means operatively associated with each of the first and second support members for retaining a foot of a climber, each bracket means including a retaining portion extending along the support member and spaced from the support member in a direction toward the other line-gripping means.
 4. The structure of claim 1, including a locking member interposed between the climbing line and the first support member, the first wedging surface having a curved configuration, the locking member having a line-contacting surface which is generally complementary in shape to the climbing line, the locking member also having a curved force-receiving surface which is opposite the line-contacting surface and which is generally complementary in shape to the first wedging surface, the first wedging surface acting through the locking member to wedge the climbing line against the second wedging surface.
 5. The structure of claim 1, including second mounting meaNs mounting the second support member in fixed position.
 6. The structure of claim 1, the first wedging surface having a generally semi-circular configuration, the first support member being elongated and having a longitudinal axis, the mounting means comprising a pivot member spaced in a direction along the climbing line from the axis of the first support member.
 7. The structure of claim 1, including clip means at a location opposite the open side for releasably retaining the climbing line.
 8. The structure of claim 1, the grappling hook means including a portion inclined in a direction away from the arm for bypassing the overhead supporting member.
 9. The structure of claim 1, including ground-anchoring means for anchoring at least a portion of the climbing line in a generally upright position below the grappling hook means.
 10. The structure of claim 9, including means for maintaining tension in the upright portion of the climbing line.
 11. Climbing aid structure, comprising grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member, a throw line for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead supporting member, the grappling hook means including an arm and an open side, the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion, throw line connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and climbing line connecting means contiguous to the second end portion of the arm.
 12. The structure of claim 11, including clip means at a location opposite the open side for releasably retaining the climbing line.
 13. The structure of claim 11, the grappling hook means including a portion inclined in a direction away from the arm for bypassing the overhead supporting member.
 14. Climbing aid structure, comprising grappling hook means for grappling an overhead supporting member, the grappling hook means including an arm and an open side, the arm extending from a first end portion contiguous to the open side to a free second end portion, first line-connecting means contiguous to the first end portion of the arm, and second line-connecting means spaced from the first line-connecting means and contiguous to the second end portion of the arm, a throw line operatively associated with one of the line-connecting means for pulling the grappling hook means up to the overhead supporting member, a climbing line operatively associated with the other line-connecting means, ground-anchoring means for anchoring at least a portion of the climbing line in a generally upright position below the grappling hook means, means for maintaining tension in the upright portion of the climbing line, and line-gripping elevator means for ascending the upright portion of the climbing line. 